Gate latch



C. I. FERRILL.

GATE LATCH.

A* APPLICATION FILED APR.29. I92I. 1,41 1,963. Patented Apr. 4, 1922.

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CHARLIE I. FERRILL, 0F CLINTON, ILLINOIS.

GATE LATCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 4, 1922.

Application led April 29, 1921. Serial No. 465,393.

To alt Iwhoa/1t t may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLIE I. FERRILL, a citizen of the United States, and a resident ot Clinton, in the county oi De Witt and State oi Illinois, have invented a new and Improved (irate Latch, of which the following is a iull, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to improvements in latches, particularly to a latch for gates, an object or the invention being to provide a gate latch which cannot be accidentally opened when stock bumps or rubs against the gate and a latch whichwill permit a gate to open in either direction.

.A still furthe-r object is to provide a latch which will automatically operate when the gate is swung to from either side and a latch which will be simple and practical in coiistruction, strong, durable and efficient in use, and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

lVith these and other objects in view, the invention consists ot' certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts as will be more fully hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings Figure I is a view in side elevation illustrating a gate locked in closed position by my improved latch; Y

Figure 2 is a view in vertical section on the line 2-2 or' Figure 1, the dotted lines indicating other positions which may be assumed by the yoke 8 when the gate. is opened;

Figures 3, 4. and 5 are fragmentary detail views in transverse section illustrating the various positions assumed by the yoke 8 as the gate is swung to;

Figure 6 is an enlarged Afragmentary peu spective view of the upper end of the yoke l Referring in detail to the drawings. '1S represents a fence post forming one side of a closure fra-nie andv 2 represents a closure in the form of a gate which. is hinged to the opposite side of the frame. I have illustrated a gate which includes a plurality oi' horizontal rails 3 connected by upright metal braces or straps 4t, the intermediate rails 3 being somewhat shorter than the upper and lower rails for a purpose which will hereinafter appear.

5, 5 represent a pair of elongated U-shaped brackets` the ends of which straddle and are bolted to a pair of the shorter rails 3 and .ism with the post.

the loop (i is ilorlned withy a recess or` notch ll. A locking member l2 is pivoted in the upper bracket 5 on a Apin 13' and is engageable in the notch ll to hold the yoke against rotary movement. This locking member, may, it desired, be swung to inoperative position, as indicated in dotted lines in Figure l, and be supported in this position by the knob 9.

An oiiset bar 14 is secured to the inner iace of the 'fence post 1. This bar has its ends attached to the post and its intermediate portion oilset and located in parallel- The offset intermediate portion is widest at its center iiaring to a pair of pointed lugs such as 15. The bar 1.4i is straddled by the yoke 8 to hold the gate in closed position.

The gate automatically latches as it is swung to closed position. As illustrated in Figures 3, l and 5, when the gate is swung to closed position, one side ot the yoke 8 will strike the offset bar 14, causing the volte to pivot or rotate and straddle the bar. The locking member' l2 which is normally supported upon theknob 9 when the gate is open will be `iarred by theilnpact oi the yoke S and the bar la and will fall into operative locking position. Since the yoke may be disengaged from the bar only by rotary Inotiom'the locking member l2 effectively ]nevents opening of the gate.

Although I have illustrated one ozt the preferred embodiments oit my invention, it will be apparent that various slight changes and alterations might be made in the general :torni and arrangement ci the parts described 'without departing 'from the invention and hence I do not wish to limit myself to the precise details set 'tort-h, but shall consider myselr1 at liberty to make such slight changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l.` The combination with a closure Aframe and a closure hingedly mounted therein, of a Vpivoted yoke carried by the free end of lOO the closure, means supported on the frame engageable With the yoke to hold the closure against opening, a notched collar carried by the yoke, and means engageable in the notches of the collar to prevent accidental opening of the closure.

2; The combination with a closure frame and a closure hingedlymounted therein, of a pivoted yoke carried by the free end of the closure, means supported on the Jframe engageable with the yoke to hold the closure against opening, a notched collar carried by the yoke, means engageable in` the notches of the collar to prevent accidental opening of the closure, and said means comprising pivoted locking member.

3. TheV combination with a closure frame, of a hinged closure movable in the frame, a yoke rotatably mounted adjacent the free edge of the closure, means rigidly attached to the closure frame engageable With the yoke when the closure is swung to closed position and adapted to be straddled by the yoke, and means for locking the yoke against accidental rotary movement when it.is in locked relationship with said means, said last mentioned means comprising a notched collar rigidly attached to the yoke and a pivoted locking member engageable with the collar.V

4. The combination with a closure frame and a closure hingedly mounted in the frame, of an offset bar rigidly attached to the frame, a yoke rotatably mounted adjacent the free edge of the closure and `normally straddling said bar, means whereby rotary movement of the yoke is necessary to disengage the yoke from the bar, and means preventing accidental rotary movement of the yoke, said last mentioned means comprising a collar fixed to the yoke and having a notch therein and a pivoted locking member engageable in'lthe notch.

:5. A device of the character described in claim i and including means for supporting the locking member in inoperative position.

CHARLIE I. FER-HILL. 

